IRISH CHURCH DISESTABLISHMENT.

Southland Times, Issue 1158, 3 November 1869, Page 3

IRISH CHURCH DISESTABLISHMENT.

— ♦ — This measure, as complete as it will b< for some years to come, is now accom plished, and the impression produced bi it in Ireland ia reflected, we believe, yen •fairly in the varied comments of th( press of tbat country. Here are a few The Freeman, its editor an M.P. and s staunch supporter of the measure, wri'tei in a conciliatory tone, abstaining froa »ny expression of triumph which woulc v be likely to create more bitter feeling: in the defeated party. It dwells witl reasonable pride on the leading incident! of the great drama which has been sc successfully played, and the part taker in it by the member for Kilkenny, an^ after contrasting the all but hopelest prospects in 1865 with its rapid and satisfactory denouement, concludes in the following terms:— "To-day let the dead bury their dead, and let no voice ol triumph disturb the mourners who surround the bier. To-morrow, and tomorrow, and to-morrow after they shall have returned from the grave of ascendancy, the grasp of friendship will grasp each brother's hand, and we will all unite to labour to bring peace, and concord, and prosperity to the land of our common love." The Northern Whig is less enthusiastic, but earnest in expressing its pleasure. Id the course of an able article on the subject the Whig observes :— " Though we cannot, with Mr Disraeli, regard all the details of the bill as statesmanlike and satisfactory, we believe that the measure, as a whole, is eminently statesmanlike and satisfactory. To have carried it in the lace of such an opposition is a great exploit, and it is but one of many whith Mr Gladstone, aided by intelligent public " opinion, has already performed. For him, however, there will be no halting, no resting-place. He is not one inclined to repose on his laurels. Like King "William, the Prime Minister will not allow the grass to grow under his feet. The Protestant Episcopalian ascendancy in Ireland is, however, at an end." -■ The Evening Post rejoices in the removal of an obstruction to remedial legislation, industrial .and social, which it now expects to be inaugurated without delay. ; ; ; . ; - The Conservative press write, as may be supposed, in a very different tone. Bitter disappointment and resentment are expressed at the abandonment of the position taken up by the Lords on Tuesday. The Daily Express contrasts the Erofessions of zeal for the Church made y their Lordships in the course of the debates and the practical results of the compromise. The Irish Hw»« acquiescesin the result, recognises the concessions of the Government as dictated by a generous spirit, and applauds the spirit of Mr Gladstone's • speech. v The Sounders predicts a prejudicial reaction upon the House of Lords itself as the result of its submission, expresses ■ regret that their Lordships indulged in '.', the mimicry of war, and offers some / practical counsel to the Protestant clergy and people. It reviews the difficulties with which the Church will have to deal. The Belfast News-Letter sounds a shrill note of Protestant "nationalism," to which Fenians only will heartily respond. The livening Mail, in an article conspicuously headed " Sold," denounces in unmeasured terms the treachery of the Conservative leaders: — "At the time when the late Ministry inaugurated the , fatal attack upon the Irish Church by Lord Mayo's notorious speech, a sarcastic member of the present Cabinet — himself no mean judge of the negative value of a " journeyman politician's honour — was - heard to remark, 'Well, I thought if there was anything Cairns would not sell, it ' was the Irish Church/ Our readers will see in our Parliamentary report this morning abundant proof that Cairns has ' sold the Church, and the Peers, independent and Conservative, who are friends of the Church ; and, we most sincerely ; hope and believe, has thrown himself into the bargain. The blank shot fired on Tuesday was accepted by the Cabinet as an indication that the Lords were standing to their arms in desperate defence, not of •othe Irish Church, but of their own • political existence. Mr. Gladstone was put aside by his colleagues, a chamade , beaten, parley agreed upon, and, when the Government was known to be at the point of yielding, Lord Cairns, who thrust himself into the position of palementoire, as it appears, without authority from any one, simply gave in, and passed the bill.